RIP: Ricardo Montalban

For over sixty years, Ricardo Montalban charmed audiences -- he was the man who granted wishes on Fantasy Island; he fooled the Captain of the Enterprise in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (look above); and in recent years, he even grandfathered some sassy Spy Kids and gained new virtual legs. And now, I'm sad to write that The Hollywood Reporterposts that Montalban has passed away at the age of 88. According to the report, he died in his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday, and the news was released at a meeting of the city council.

Montalban's career began in 1942 with the WWII drama Five Were Chosen. In the coming decades, his roles morphed from Latin lovers, to a slew of ethnic characters, and finally, in 1967, the role of Khan in an episode of Star Trek. After time in space, Montalban moved on to Planet of the Apes, and took on a series of television roles, which finally nabbed him an Emmy in 1978 for How the West Was Won. We all know what that year also brought -- six years of wish-granting on the show that made his face known to all -- Fantasy Island.

His last role: He voiced The Cow in the "McStroke" episode of Family Guy. While not the most desirable role to bid adieu to Hollywood with, it was certainly an example of the man's range. Ricardo, you will be missed.